Sofia Fiusco found the old box of photos and negatives, belonging to her deceased aunt Annie Woods, while cleaning out her Ballarat home.

Ms Woods was a mothercraft nurse around the 1960s and worked at several orphanages - including the Methodist Babies Home in South Yarra and the Alexandra Babies Home in Ballarat.

Her album not only captures the small children she cared for, but a moment that is a part of Australia's dark past - a period that is now associated with the Stolen Generation, forced adoption and child sex abuse.

"There was something about these photos that we found that had a really nice sense of belonging to them; it's like they've captured time where it's all about play," Ms Fuscio said.

"And then it was a bit sad that, do these people in these photos have a belonging, and do they know?

"I think it's interesting to see the photos of Indigenous children which made me think about the Stolen Generation and what that meant for them."